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Engineering Lightweight Aluminum and Magnesium Alloys for a Sustainable Future

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Journal of the Indian Institute of Science Aims and scope

Abstract

Lightweight alloys such as magnesium and aluminum have been garnering increasing interest due to the global demand for emission reduction and sustainability. Such alloys are excellent candidates for replacing high-density iron-based materials, leading to weight reduction and associated improvements in energy consumption. In addition, alloys with improved thermal properties such as thermal conductivity can aid in electric vehicle operation and internal combustion engine efficiency. However, to further promote the use of lightweight materials in industry, their mechanical and thermal properties must be enhanced, especially for magnesium alloys. To this end, this article summarizes recent progress toward improving the properties of cast magnesium and aluminum alloys in the fields of grain refinement using potent nucleants and solutes, thermal conductivity enhancement through microstructure modification and heat treatment, magnesium melt cleanliness assessment and control as well as ultrasonic assisted casting of light alloys. The current state of literature illustrates tremendous strides toward magnesium and aluminum alloys with high strength and improved thermal properties. Such materials will be invaluable for addressing the current and future challenges of sustainability, environment and energy.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the valuable contribution of the scholars whose research was used in this review. They thank the alumni and members of the Centre for Near-net-shape processing of materials for their research and stimulating discussions. The authors thank Dr. R.V. Krishnan for his excellent suggestions. The authors would also like to acknowledge the financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), through Canada Graduate Scholarships to both Mr. Payam Emadi (CGSD3 – 535728 – 2019) and Mr. Bernoulli Andilab (CGSD3 – 559982 – 2021), and research Grant RGPIN-06096.

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Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

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  1. Centre for Near-Net-Shape Processing of Materials, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada

    Payam Emadi, Bernoulli Andilab & C. Ravindran

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  1. Payam Emadi
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  2. Bernoulli Andilab
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Correspondence to C. Ravindran.

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Emadi, P., Andilab, B. & Ravindran, C. Engineering Lightweight Aluminum and Magnesium Alloys for a Sustainable Future. J Indian Inst Sci 102, 405–420 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41745-021-00267-9

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